Turned down a federal job offer 6/11

Today I turned down the first federal job offer I got. It was awesome.

I had applied for a GS-12 position in the 25th ID G-4 section -- the same one I worked from February 2016 to April 2017 -- but they wouldn't match my current salary. As a GS-12 Step 1, I would have had to accept a $20,000 a year pay cut. I wasn't interested in that.

It might not have been so bad, but I already took a nearly $25,000 pay cut when I transitioned out of the Army. Disability/pension almost covered the difference on that, but another $10k cut would have been too much.

I have to say, though, that it's nice to have a job while I'm looking for something else. Very empowering to be able to turn down a job offer.